"Removing Park to Build Temporary Terminal"... Conflict Over Dongseoul Terminal Modernization Project

Private Operator Shinsegae "Will Build Temporary Terminal on Guui Park Site"
Nearby Residents Demand "Stop Destruction of Saengmyeong Park"
Seoul City "Will Follow Resident Opinion Collection Process"

There is a conflict between nearby residents and private businesses over the installation of a temporary terminal within the park related to the modernization project of Dongseoul Terminal. Photo by Reader Provided.

The modernization project (reconstruction) of Dongseoul Terminal in Guui-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, is causing conflicts due to opposition from nearby residents over the installation of a temporary terminal.

The Dongseoul Terminal modernization project involves the complex development of the terminal site in Guui-dong 546-1 area (36,704㎡) into transportation, retail, and office facilities with 7 underground floors and 40 above-ground floors. The private developer Shinsegae Property is leading the project, with a total project cost of 1.879 trillion KRW (excluding land costs).

The issue arose from Shinsegae's plan to build a three-story underground temporary terminal on the Guui Park site across the street during the construction period. Residents near the park are opposing this, stating that they cannot allow the destruction of the park.

The residents are protesting, saying that although Shinsegae had told resident representatives that operating the temporary terminal within the Dongseoul Terminal site was possible, their attempt to destroy Guui Park is an act to maximize their profits by reducing construction time and costs.

Dongseoul Terminal, which opened in 1987, is scheduled to begin modernization next year with a completion target of 2030. Upon completion, Shinsegae plans to utilize three underground floors as the terminal.

However, regarding the temporary terminal site that must operate during the construction period, nearby residents have clearly opposed it, stating that the company is forcing residents to sacrifice for corporate profit. Currently, Dongseoul Terminal operates over 1,000 express and intercity buses daily on 112 routes.

Shinsegae plans to use the nearby Guui Park site to invest 2 billion KRW in park refurbishment and use it as a community hub, while constructing a three-story underground parking lot costing 55.1 billion KRW to serve as a temporary terminal. After the Dongseoul Terminal construction is completed, the space will be converted into resident convenience facilities.

However, nearby residents demand the cancellation of the temporary terminal construction using Guui Park, stating, "Seoul City and Gwangjin-gu are collaborating with a private company to destroy Guui Park, which is like the lungs of Guui-dong, a district-owned area." Residents explain that Seoul City and Gwangjin-gu pushed the project forward without sufficient consultation.

Residents of the nearby Seyang Apartments held a meeting with Kim Kyungho, head of Gwangjin-gu Office, on the 22nd to demand park preservation. Guui Park, established in 2013 as a resident-friendly park, features solar-powered healing shelters, smart shelters, water play areas, and a loess trail, attracting about 3,000 visitors daily. Around 2,000 apartment households, including Seyang Apartments, Guui Hyundai 2nd Complex, and Hyundai 6th Complex, are densely located near the park.

Regarding the residents' opposition, Seoul City stated, "We judged that it is necessary to prepare alternatives to minimize safety concerns for terminal users due to the mixing of construction and temporary terminal vehicles and to reduce construction damage to residents near the site caused by extended construction periods. Therefore, we prepared a plan to temporarily use the underground floor of Guui Park as a temporary terminal in connection with the park's redevelopment project," adding, "We will continuously collect residents' opinions through resident briefings and other processes."

In response, a nearby resident strongly opposed, saying, "Shinsegae's plan to create a passage connecting Dongseoul Terminal to the underground parking lot of Guui Park blatantly reveals the privatization of Guui Park's underground parking lot in the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.